Vestibular Exam cont Flashcards

1
Q

List the components of the vestibular exam

A
  1. Auditory Screen
  2. Gaze Stability Assessment
  3. Cervical Dizziness tests
  4. Balance and Postural Control Assessment
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2
Q

what tests are performed during the auditory screen?

A

Weber and Rinne Test

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3
Q

What tests are included in the gaze stability assessment?

A
  1. Spontaneous Nystagmus
  2. Gaze-Evoked Nystagmus
  3. Optokinetic Nystagmus
  4. Pursuit
  5. Saccades
  6. VOR
  7. Dynamic Visual Acuity
  8. Head Impulse Test
  9. Post Head-Shaking Induced Nystagmus
  10. Skew Deviation
  11. VOR Cancellation
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4
Q

what is a spontaneous nystagmus?

A

onset of nystagmus without any cognitive, visual or vestibular stimulus

occurs in the absence of any purposeful eye or head motion

(you observe nystagmus at rest)

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5
Q

describe a spontaneous peripheral nystagmus

A
  1. mixed horizontal/torsional
    • fast phases of the horizontal and torsional component move the eyes away from involved ear
  2. present w/acute lesions, rarely w/chronic stable lesions
  3. more prominent w/fixation removed
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6
Q

describe a central spontaneous nystagmus

A
  1. vertical or torsional
  2. acute or chronic
  3. more prominent with fixation present
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7
Q

how is a gaze-evoked nystagmus tested?

A

head remains still but eyes move side/side and up/down but only in a small range

performed with and w/o visual fixation

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8
Q

describe a gaze-evoked nystagmus that is indicative of a peripheral vestibular dysfunction

A
  1. uni-directional
    • fast-phase away from involved side (ie it points to the good ear)
  2. present w/acute lesions, rarely w/chronic stable lesions
  3. decreases when fixation available
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9
Q

describe a gaze-evoked nystagmus that is indicative of a central vestibular dysfunction

A
  1. changes direction
  2. seen acutely or chronicaly
  3. increase or stays the same with fixation available
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10
Q

what is alexander’s law?

A

a peripheral vestibular nystagmus increases in intensity with the gaze directed towards the fast phase

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11
Q

what is a 1st degree nystagmus?

A

only present when gaze directed towards fast phase

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12
Q

what is a 2nd degree nystagmus?

A
  1. present in primary gaze and when gaze directed towards fast phase
  2. strongest when gaze is directed towards fast phase
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13
Q

what is a 3rd degree nystagmus?

A
  1. present in all gazes
  2. strongest when gaze directed towards fast phase
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14
Q

what is an optokinetic nystagmus?

A

an involuntary optic reflex for percieving motion in the visual field

normal to have nystagmus during this

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15
Q

what is an abnormal aysmmetrical response for the optokinetic nystagmus?

A

direction of reduced motion → non-compenstation vestibular condition

you will see a blunted or irregular beating response compared to the other side

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16
Q

define smooth pursuits

A

ability of eyes to follow a target at a slow pace

this is a voluntary movement

to test → sit with head still and target is brought at a slow pace from L to R

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17
Q

what are saccades? How do you test these?

A

rapid repositioning between visual targets (voluntary movement)

To Test:

  1. Pt sits w/head still and 2 targets are placed to R and L fields of vision
  2. Pt is instructed to move from center point (nose) to L to center then to R target
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18
Q

how is VOR tested?

A
  • passively moving pt through horizontal canal’s plane (30 degrees below horizontal) while instructing pt to maintain gaze on target (nose)
  • abnormal findings:
    • corrective saccades or nystagmus
19
Q

What is the gold standard for VOR testing?

A

Head Thrust and Head Impulse Test

20
Q

what is an abnormal response to the Head Thrust test?

A

correct saccades and or post/thrust nystagmus → suggestive of peripheral vestibular hypofunction

21
Q

what increases the sensitivity of the Head thrust test?

A
  1. unpredictable head thrusts
  2. frequency (>2Hz) and velocity (180 deg/sec)
  3. maintaining appropriate head positioning (30 deg below neutral)
22
Q

what is the head shake test?

A

presence of post-headshake nystagmus = strong clinical indicator of non-compensated injury

23
Q

what are the steps of the head shake test?

A
  1. fixation removed (eyes closed)
  2. 2Hz (120 bpm) head shaking horizontal for ~20 seconds
  3. keep eyes closed, therapist passively opens one eye and assesses for nystagmus
24
Q

what are abnormal findings for the head shake test?

A
  1. Peripheral dysfunction
    • >3 beats of post head shaking nystagmus considered clinically sig for unilateral vestibular dysfunction
    • should see horizontal nystagmus beating away involved ear
  2. Central dysfunction
    • vertical nystagmus
25
Q

what is the dynamic visual acuity test?

A

a functional challenge to VOR

  • better able to ID dysfunction in subacute and chronic vestibular disorder
  • to perform obtain a static baseline and then use 2 cycles/second 120 bpm
  • perform in both the horizontal and vertical fields
26
Q

what is considered an abnormal finding for the dynamic visual acuity test?

A

>/= 3 line degradation considered significatn

27
Q

what is the skew deviation test?

A

this assess for vertical dysconjugate gaze

predictor of central vestibular involvement (98% sensitivity)

28
Q

describe the steps for the skew deviation tests and abnormal findings

A
  1. move your hand back and forth to each eye, blocking their vision, while observing the uncovered eye.
  2. instruct pt to keep eyes forward and on target (nose) during the test
  3. abnormal response:
    • deviation of one eye while it is being convered, followed by correction after uncovering it
29
Q

what does an abnormal result on the skew deviation test indicate?

A

central pathology

30
Q

what is the purpose of the VOR cancellation test?

A

evaluate cerebellar control w/regards to modulation (inhibition) of VOR

31
Q

describe the steps to the VOR cancellation test

A
  1. pt seated, with either target set directly in midline or pt’s arms outstretched w/thumbs up
  2. have pt move head and target in unision to L and R eye, observing eye movements
  3. abnormal results = + corrective saccades (ipsilateral)
32
Q

T/F: the VOR cancellation test assists with determining the presence of a peripheral vestibular pathology

A

FALSE
central screen

this test is looking at the modulation of the VOR, if the VOR is alread broken (like in a perihperal pathology) its hard to test modulation of it

33
Q

what is the HINTS test?

A

quick bedside, physical exam that can be performed on pts w/acute vestibular symptoms

has a very high sensitivity and specificity

34
Q

what does the HINTS test include?

A
  • Head Impulse test
  • Nystagmus observation
  • Test of Skew
35
Q

what results on the HINTS test indicate concern for central dysfunction?

A

I.N.F.A.R.C.T

Impulse Normal

Fast phase Alteration

Refixiation on Cover Test

36
Q

what is included in balance and postural control assessment during a vestibular exam?

A
  1. CTSIB
  2. Gans Sensory Organization Processing (SOP) Test
  3. Mini-BESTest
  4. BESS test
  5. Computerized Sensory Organization
37
Q

what is the CTSIB test?

A

Clinical Test of Sensory Organization and Balance

assesses sensory contributions to postural control

Involves the observation of a patient’s attempts to maintain balance

38
Q

list the 6 conditions included in the CTSIB

A
  1. firm surface
    • eyes open
    • eyes closed
    • visual conflict
  2. foam surface
    • eyes open
    • eyes closed
    • visual conflict
39
Q

what is the Gans Sensory Organization Performance Test?

A

combines components of tests to better evaluate balance modality systems

  1. modified Romberg
  2. CTSIB
  3. Fakuda Step test
40
Q

describe the Fakuda Step Test

A

Marching w/eyes closed for 50 steps

rotation greater than 30 degrees or displacement of 0.5m indicative of uncompensated peripheral vestibular dysfunction

41
Q

describe the Mini-BESTest

A

14-item test observing anticipatory and reactive control, sensory organization and dynamic gait

MCID = 4 points

42
Q

What is the BESS Test?

A

Balance Error Scoring System Test

  • initially develoed for consussions and return-to-play
    • fundamentally looking at vestibular dysfunction
  • 6 conditions, eyes closed for all, 20 seconds each
  • measuring #errors during each condition
    • max 10 per condition
  • MCID = 3 points (3 errors)
43
Q

what is Computerized Posturography Sensory Organization Testing?

A
  • This test manipulates difference balance inputs to ID how pt weighs each modality
  • Can be used as assessment tool, as well as for intervention
  • helps ID malingering pts
44
Q

list the 6 conditions of the Computerized Posturography Sensory Organization Test

A
  1. Fixed Support
    • normal vision
    • absent vision
    • sway-referenced vision
  2. Sway-Referenced Support
    • normal vision
    • absent vision
    • sway-referenced vision